OUR OPINION: We heard you: No more anonymous comments

On Thursday, The Enterprise will launch a new system for commenting. Readers who wish to participate must create new accounts using Facebook or LinkedIn, and their real identities. In our attempt to respond to your feedback, we will disable those accounts we learn were created using fake names and delete all comments posted under that name.

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

Writer

Posted Jun. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 25, 2013 at 5:12 PM

Posted Jun. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 25, 2013 at 5:12 PM

» Social News

For some time, we’ve received complaints that the anonymous commenting system we’ve hosted on our online stories does little to enhance the conversation within our community. The criticism has been that some of the comments are hateful and sometimes, downright objectionable. We heard you and we agree.

On Thursday, The Enterprise will launch a new system for commenting. Readers who wish to participate must create new accounts using Facebook or LinkedIn, and their real identities. In our attempt to respond to your feedback, we will disable those accounts we learn were created using fake names and delete all comments posted under that name.

The goal is for people to contribute in a thoughtful, more respectful manner. The new system will give readers a better method for sharing their opinions and provide a civil forum where people can feel safe offering them.

We understand this will be a big change for many of you. For now, comments submitted in the past – nearly 200,000 over four years – will remain on the site, though those accounts will all be disabled.

As has always been The Enterprise policy, comments on topics that involve sex crimes, death and any other topic we deem to be sensitive will be moderated or prohibited. It’s our intention that our readers and the people we cover be treated with the utmost respect and that the comments section on our website be one where people can exchange ideas, contribute information and engage in a civil manner.

In that vein, we reserve the right to suspend or ban commentators who make offensive posts. Additionally, there will be an option for readers to flag inappropriate comments to be reviewed by an editor.

The new commenting system offers readers many exciting opportunities too. Readers can now attach photos and videos to their comments that will post once editors approve the content. There will be a new feature where comments that receive the most “likes” will rise to the top, so that readers can easily view the most popular comments first. And for those who like to have conversations within the comments section (you know who you are), you can do that too within an individual thread.

But comments won’t be constrained to our website. The more pithy thoughts and exchanges can be shared by readers and us on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail with two quick clicks. You can even receive email alerts when someone responds to one of your comments.

As we transition over to this new site, we expect there will be questions. We’re here to answer them. Simply contact us at newsroom@enterprisenews.com and we’ll do our best to respond in a timely manner.

We’re making this change for you, our readers, because this is what you’ve requested. Please know how much we value your contributions to the discussions on our site about the news of the day. We truly value your input and hope you find the new system enhances your participation.

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